Methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and cooling bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items to selected desired temperatures by rapidly rotating and counter-rotating the bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items that are immersed in cooled liquids in short time spans.

A refrigeration device has an electrical device part which emits noise during operation. A controller operates the electrical device part in a normal operating power range. A noise sensor detects an intensity of the emitted noise from the electrical device part. The controller is configured to change an operating power of the electrical device part within the normal operating power range and to determine a minimum value of the noise intensity which is detected by the noise sensor and to determine a noise-reduced operating power in order to operate the electrical device part at the noise-reduced operating power.

An electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit that is self-weighing and/or measures its orientation. The storage unit includes a base including an enclosure and at least one foot for supporting the self-contained climate controlled storage unit, a climate controlled space affixed above the base, and a climate control system for providing climate control to the climate controlled space. The climate control system is provided in the enclosure. The storage unit further includes at least one sensor for measuring a weight and/or orientation associated with the self-contained climate controlled storage unit and a system controller connected to the self-contained climate controlled storage unit. The system controller is configured to determine an unsafe operating condition of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit based on the weight and/or orientation associated with the self-contained climate controlled storage unit measured by the sensor.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space and a door to open and close the storage space. The door includes a panel assembly including a front panel, a door frame connected to the panel assembly, a door liner connected to the panel assembly and the door frame and to define an insulating space, in which an insulator is disposed, together with the panel assembly and the door frame, and a sensor module installed on the door frame to sense a knock input applied to the front panel. The door frame includes a front wall that is in contact with the front panel and a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall and configured to define an accommodation space, in which the sensor module is accommodated, together with the front wall.

A refrigerator including a main body having a storage compartment, a door rotatably provided on the main body to open and close the storage compartment, and an automatic water supply device. The automatic water supply device includes a water supply case, a bucket detachably mounted on the water supply case, and a water level sensor provided to detect a water level in the bucket, and is configured to supply water to the bucket depending on the water level in the bucket. The door includes a dyke protruding from a rear surface of the door to form an accommodation space in which the water supply case is accommodated, and the water supply case is coupled to the dyke.

An insulated structure for an appliance includes a plurality of walls, a cavity defined by the plurality of walls, and an aperture defined by one of the plurality of walls. The aperture is employed in evacuating the cavity to establish a less-than-atmospheric pressure within the cavity. A base structure is coupled to an interior surface of the one of the plurality of walls that defines the aperture. The base structure is aligned with the aperture. A pressure sensor is received by the base structure. The base structure and the pressure sensor together define a pressure-sensing assembly.

A graphical display device for mounting to a door of an appliance includes an electronic visual display having a display screen, a housing having a receptacle for receiving the electronic visual display and a mount for affixing the housing to the door of an appliance. The housing additionally includes an internal cavity with a controller retained within the internal cavity, with the controller being operable to selectively enable visual display information to be displayed on the display screen. In a particular embodiment the graphical display device is configured as a housing with the housing including a grip portion and one or more mounts extending rearwardly from the grip portion. The controller may include an interface enabling connection with a remote computer for controlling the visual display information to be displayed on the display screen.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.

A refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly mounted to a dispenser recess for providing a flow of water. The dispensing assembly includes a flexible hose that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a retraction mechanism for urging the flexible hose toward the retracted position. A dispensing nozzle is fluidly coupled to an end of the flexible hose and is mounted to an external container by a mechanical clip. The flow of water may be activated by a button or voice activation system.

Systems and methods for performing dynamic coefficient of performance calculations for refrigeration systems are provided. A controller calculates a weighted Carnot efficiency of a refrigeration case based on outdoor temperature data, refrigeration case temperature data, a case load of a refrigeration case, and a case defrost status of the refrigeration case. The controller calculates a weighted coefficient of performance based on based on a refrigerant type, the case load of the refrigeration case, the case defrost status of the refrigeration case, and at least one of the of the refrigeration case temperature data and pressure data. The controller calculates a system performance index (SPI) for the refrigeration case based on the weighted Carnot efficiency of the refrigeration case and weighted actual Carnot efficiency. The controller generates, in response to the SPI being below a threshold, an output indicating that the refrigeration case is operating below a threshold efficiency.